Crutch



B. F. AMES.

CRUTCH. APPLICATION mm JUNE 16, 19:9.

1N VENTOR. fi ron fi Ames A TTORNE Y.

Patented Mar. 16, 1920.

BYRON r. Arms, OFNEW ron c. n. Y.

CRUTCH.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented luau. 16, 1920- Application filed June 16, 1919. Serial No. 304,639.

To all whom it may conccwt:

Be it known that I, BYRON F. Alums, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful. Improvements in Crutches, '1 which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in crutches and more particularly to a cushioning means for the crutch in order to avoid the transmission of shocks to the user.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a crutch in which a cushioning spring is inteiposed in the staff in such a manner as to receive and absorb shocks due to the setting of the lower end of the crutch on the surface being traversed.

As a further object the invention contemplates the provision of a cushioned head which. rests beneath the shoulders of the user and under his arm in such a manner that when the weight is applied it will be supported by cushioning springs thereby further protecting the user against shocks.

lVith. these and other objects in view will. become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be fully set forth, in the following specification, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which y Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of one Eorm of this improved crutch.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrat ng' another form of the crutch, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view partly in section of the cushion used in the lower end of the crutch staff.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the numeral 1 designates the crutch staff, the lower end of which is received in a tubular housing or collar 2. As

shown in the drawings the staff preferably 7 consists of two separate h alf rounded me1nhers. the upper ends of which are scu -ml and. extend outwar lv in the manner illustrated as at 3.. Slidablv mounted in the lower end of the socket 2 is a plug 4.- the lower end of which is preterablv p o ided with a suit b e foot 5 of rubber or a similar material. The plug 4 is provided with a transverse slot 6 and extending transversely through the socket 2 near its lower end is a guide pin 7 which is received in the slot 6 and forms a stop to limit the downward movement of the plug 4: within said socket. Disposed between the plug 4-. and the stai'l 1. isa cushioning spring 8 upon which the weight of thcuscr carried. It will be noted that this construction is particularly simple and provides a cushionino means for the crutch staff wherein complicated connecting means for the ends of the spring are eliminated.

In the form of the invention illustratml in Fig. 1 the arms. 3 formed by the separation of the crutch stali' extend upwardly'to provide the vertical supports 9 which are arranged in spaced parallel relation and have their upper ends received in suitable sockets 10 formed on the head piece 11.. Slidably mounted in the head piece is a saddle 12 formed on its under side near opposite ends. with depending guide pins .153 which. are arranged to be received within the coil springs 141. upon which the saddle is supported. The head piece 11 is provided at its upper end with arcuate rows-tees 15 in its side walls, thus rendering the entire head piece substantially crescent shaped. inwardly extending flanges 16 are formed at opposite ends oi. the head piece and. serve to limit the upward movement oi the saddle member within said head piece. The usual crutch handle or grip 17 is arrzmgcd "between the vertical arms 9 hereinheliore described and in this Form of the invention. is not cushioned.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 2 the upper ends of the outwardly bent portions 3 of the staff are provided with vertically extending bores 18 in which guide pins 19 are slidable. These guide pins are carried by the arms 20 formed on the saddle member 21 which is operable within the crescent shaped head piece 22 carried at the upper end of the tubular arms 23, the

.lower'ends of which receive the upper terminals of the separated members of the crutch staff. Cushioning springs 2 1 are arranged around each of the guide pins 19 and serve to hold the saddle member 21 up wardly and against the inturned flanges 25 of the head piece 22. In this form of the invention the crutch handle or grip 26 is provided with extensions which proiect through slots arranged in the arms 23 and (ill and described the invention it is to be understood that certain into apertures formed in the arms 20. It will thus be seen that the gri is cushioned so that the distance between t 1e upper edge of the saddle member 21 and the grip remains constant regardless of the compression of springs 24.

In use it will be seen that the weight is supported on the saddle member and the cushioning'sprin and thence transmitted to the stafl. This double cushioning ar rangement is such as to afford easy travel .for the user without the transmission of shocks.

While in the foregoing has been shown preferred form of this changes in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is In a crutch, a stafi' having a bifurcated upper end, springs seated on the ends of the bifurcations, a head secured to the up er ends of the bifurcations, a saddle mem er slidable within the head and supported on the springs, guide pins carried by the saddle member and extendin partially through said springs to hold tie springs in place, and flanges at the upper ends of the head to contact with the saddle member and limit its upward movement and a cushion at the lower end of said stafi'.

l In testimony whereof I have afiixcd tnv signature.

BYRON F. AMES. 

